Electric sign.



Patented May 24, 1910.

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UNITED STATES PATENT onnron'.

LEONARD MILLER, OF BROWNWOBD, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO BOYSTEPHANUS BOYSEEN, F IBRQWNWOQD', TEXAS.

ELECTRIC SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 24, 1910.

Application filed January 18, 1909. Serial No. 472,912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD MILLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brownwood, in the county of Brown and State of Texas, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Electric Signs, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to electric signs;

' and has for its object to provide a simple forming the letters, words,lines or characters of the sign. The traveling means also operatessuitable switches which energize the motive means for rocking the'frame, throwing into circuit certain shunt connections through thelamps to keep the whole sign illuminated for a short time and then causethe lights to be extinguished simultaneously. I

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of the novelconstruction, combination and arrangement of partshereinafter describedand claimed, and illus trated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device showing in connection therewith indiagrammatic form an electric sign and the circuits connecting the samewith the operating mechanism; Fig. 2 a vertical longitudinal sectionalview of the same on the line 22 looking in the direction of thearrowsfllig. 3 a cross sectional view on the line 3- 3 of Figs. 1 and 2looking in the direction of the. arrows, and Fig. 4 an enlarged detailviewmarble, porcelain or other nonconducting material.

Pivotally mounted on the base 1 is a vibratory frame 2 comprising twospaced vertically disposed plates 3 and 4. extending from end to end ofsaid base and held apart by a 1011 itudinal separating strip 5 near thecenter 0 the plates and preferabl made of vulcanized fiber. To the edges0 the strip 5 the parallel plates 3 and 4:, made preferably of aluminum,are screwed. The frame 2 is supported a short distance above the base onpivot bolts 6, one on each side of the frame, mounted in brackets 7attached to the base 1. The ends of the bolts 6 are preferably pointedso as to enter depressions in the plates 3 and 4 formed in thelongitudinal center of the frame whereby-said frame maybe rocked on itstransverse axis to change. the inclination of the same. Fastened againstthe inner face of each plate 3 and 4 near their upper edges andextending lengthwise from end to end, isa narrow strip of insulatingmaterial 8, such as fiber, in which strips are threaded a plurality ofequally spaced bolts 9, each bolt on one side being opposite to and inline with a bolt on the other side. The inner ends of said opposingbolts project toward the center of the frame 2 and are shown pointed forthe purpose of forming pivots on which a number of 'tubu lar swingingcircuit closers are adapted to rock 1n vertical direction, one endj.projecting normally at an angle above the frame 2. Each circuit closer 10is closed at its ends and contains a ball 11 movable freely thereinthrou hout its length so as to roll to" either end of the circuit closerwhen such end is swung below the horizontal, and hold the samedepressed.

Screwed or otherwise fastened on the upper surface of the fiberseparating strips are a plurality of pairs of carbon conducting blocks.12 and 12 each pair having a space, 13. between them which is bridged byone end of a circuit closer 10 when depressed by the ball 11 therein. Afiber or other insulating block 14: is also fastened to the strip. 5 onwhich the oppositeend of the circuit closer rests when. ts position isreversed to: break. the circuit through the carbon blocks 12 and- 12*.The block 12* off each pair of carbon blocks is electrically connectedto a common conductor extending longitudinall of the strip 5, and'has aflexible wire a astened on one end leading to a binding post 17 screwedon the base 1. The other carbon blocks 12 are each connected by aflexible wire a to its individualbinding post 18 fastened on the base.

A and B are lead in wires, the former being divided into two branches,one of which A is'carried. to the sign C and the other A to a bindinpost 19 on the base 1. The lead nated, and,

- so that when a circuit breaker is astened to the binding post 17. O isof the usual form wherein wire B is The sign the letters, words, phrasesor other characters thereon are illuminated by or formed of electriclights, said letters, words, phrases or characters bein flashed intobrightness successively until t e whole sign is illumiafter remaining sofor a short time, the whole is extinguished only to be illuminated againafter a short interval'in the same manner. In the present invention theletters of the sign are flashed or illuminated in succession, thusspelling the word or words of the sign, and after remaining visible fora short time all the lamps of the, sign are extinguished simultaneously.This effect is accomplished by the mechanism above and that now to bedescribed.

The illuminating lamps of each letter are connected in series and to aseparate wire a l joined to the wire A From each binding post 18 a wirea extendsto one ofthe letters of the sign and is there connected to thelamp series forming the letter. The circuit breakers 10 and carboncontacts 12 and 12 are equal in number to the letters of the signdepressed to bridge a pair of contacts 12 and 12 the current will passfrom lead A along wire A and a wire a to the lamps of one of the lettersof the sign, say the letter M in the first Word, illuminatingthe same,thence through the wires a and c to the contact 12 and crossing to thecontact 12 it continues through the common conductor 15 and wire a tothe binding post 17 to which the lead wi're B is attached. The ball 11will hold the circuit breaker on the carbon contacts 12 and 12 untilpositively raised, thus keeping bright the lamps of the letter. When thenext circuit breaker is depressed the second letter is flashedout and soon until all the letters of the sign are illuminated.

For the purpose of operating the circuit breakers to close and open thecircuit between the carbon contacts 12 and 12 a ball 20, made and of asuitable size to roll on the upper edges of the. plates 3 and 4 of theframe 2 is employed. The ball 20 as it moves from one end of the frame 2to the other strikes in succession the upper ends of the inclinedcircuit breakers 10 and tilting them in oppreferably of someheavymaterial' posits direction, causes the balls 11 therein to roll tothe other ends and depress said ends until they strike the contacts 12and 12* (if moving to the right in Fig. 1) or the fiber blocks 14 (ifthe ball 20 is moving to the left).

The ball 20 is caused to travel alternately from one end of the frame 2by tilting said frame so that it inclines first in one direction andthen in the other. The tilting movement is produced by twoelectromagnets, one placed on each side of the axis of movement of theframe, and alternately vitalized through a switch at each end of theframe one of which switches is struck by said ball at the completionofeach downward movement to break the circuit therethrough and close it atthe opposite switch.

Projecting from the top of the frame 2 at one side and above its axis ofoscillation is a bracket 21 on which is rigidly secured a spring plate22 extending across the end of said bracket and lying parallel to theframe 2. Soft steel armature blocks 23 and 24 are fastened 'to oppositeends of the spring plate 22 and electromagnets 25 and 26 below therespective armature blocks 23 and 24:, are fastened to the base 1. Awire D connects the binding post 19 to a resistance 27 from which wires62 and d pass to the respective magnets 25 and 26. A switch arm 28mounted on horizontal pivot screws 29 at the right hand end of the frame2, Fig. 1, is adapted to be swung at its lower end into a position tobridge or connect the contact points 30 and 31 of a spring switchfastened to the frame, said points 30 and 31 being insulated from theframe, and connected, one 30 by a wire d to the electromagnet 25 and theother 31 by another wire (is to the binding post 17. At the opposite endof the frame 2 is a switch 32 having opposed yieldable contacts whichare insulated, from the frame and adapted to be connected electricallyby the lower end of a pivoted switch lever 33, the upper end thereofstanding in position to be struck by the ball 20 to break the circuitthrough the contact points of said switch 32. A second switch 34 is alsoclosed and opened simultaneously with the switch 32 when the switchlever 33 is operated. From the magnet 26 a wire d extends to one of thecontact points of the switch 32, while the other contact point of saidswitch is connected by a wire d to the conductor 15.

Let it be assumed that the end of the frame 2 carrying the two springswitches 32 and 34 is depressed and the ball 20-rolling toward the sameend.- The ball will strike the switch lever 33 and break the currentspassing through said switches deenergizlng the magnet 26, and by meansof the rod 35 connecting the lower' ends of the switch levers 33 and 28,close the circuit beto the other tween the contact points 30 and 31, asrep resented in Figs. 1 and 2. Closing the circuits through the switchpoints 30 and 31 causes the current to pass from lead A through the wireA to binding post 19, thence by wire 1) to the resistance 27, wire d tomagnet 25 and out through wire 03 to the point 30, across switch lever28, point 31, wire (i to binding post 17 and lead B. The circuit thusdescribed vitalizes the electro magnet 25 which instantly attracts thearmature block 23 and places the spring plate 22 under tension. Thespring plate, seeking equilibrium, causes the frame 2 to rock on itspivot bolts 6 thereby elevating the end supporting the ball and loweringits opposite end. The inclination of the frame is slight but suiiicientto cause the ball 20 to roll to the opposite end and strike the switchlever 28 which rocks on its axis and breaks the circuit between thepoints 30 and 31 and by means of the connecting rod 35, rocks the lever33 and closes a circuit through the switch 32 and the electromagnet 26which latter in turn causes the frame 2 to oscillate and incline in theopposite direction.

When the ball 20 is at the left end of the frame 2 in Fig. 1 (whichcorresponds with the right end in Fig. 2), each tubular circuit closer10 has one end resting on an insulated block let and its opposite endprojecting above the frame and inclined away from said ball. As soon asthat end of the frame 2 supporting the ball is elevated, said ballbegins to roll toward the other end, striking the-projecting ends of thecircuit closers in 4 succession and reversing their position, as

clearly represented in Figs. 2 and 4t, bringing their opposite endsbetween the carbon blocks 12 and 12 and closing the circuits through thelights on the sign as heretofore described. When the ball reachestheopposit-e end of the frame and begins to return, the circuit closers 10are reversed and once more break the circuits through the blocks 12 and12 This would cause the lights composing the letters of the sign to beextinguished one at a time and in reverse order, but to prevent this andkeep the sign illuminated until the ball 20 strikes the switch arm 28, ashunt circuit is provided.

Near one end of the frame 2and on the outside of the plate 3 is secureda bracket 36 which is of non-conducting material with a metal plate 37fastened against its under. side. flexible wire 6 extends from saidplate 27 to a binding post 38, and a wire e connects said binding postto one of the contact points on the spring switch 34. From the othercontact point on the same switch a flexible wire 6 extends to a bindingpost '39 which is connected by a wire E to the outgoing lead B. Fastenedon the base 1 below the insulating bracket 36 area series of independentspring fingers 40 adapted to contact with the plate 37 on the bracket 36when the end of the frame 2 carrying said bracket is drawn down by theelectromagnet 26.

There are many spring fingers 40 as letters in the Sign O and circuitclosers 10 in the frame 2. From each binding post 18 a wire F is carriedto one of the spring fingers 40 to form a. shunt circuit through theletter lamps while the ball 20 is rolling toward the switch lever 33.This shunt circuit begins at the binding posts 18 thence through thewires F to the spring fingers 4:0, to the plate 37, by wire 6 to thespring switch 34 thence through wire 6 tobinding post 39 and finallythrough wire E to the lead B. These several circuits will keep the signilluminated until the ball 20 strikes the switch lever 33, thus shuntingthe current from wire A tothe electromagnet 25 and deenergizes magnet26. The position of the frame 2 is then changed and breaking thecontacts between the fingers 4L0 and the plate 37, the lights areextinguished and remain so until the ball 20 once more reverses theposition of the circuit breakers l0 and successively illuminates theletters of the sign.

The operation of the device is set forth in the above description but tobriefly re view the same it will be seen that with the frame 2 inclinedas shown, the circuit breakers 10 resting on the fiber blocks and theelectromagnet energized by closing the circuit therethrough at thecontact points 30 and 31; the ball 20 if placed on the upper end of theframe will roll by gravity toward the other end successively reversingthe circuit closers as it moves and illuminating the letters of the signone at a time until the word or Words thereof are all spelled. The ballthen strikes the switch lever 28, reversing it and the switch lever 33thereby interrupting the current through the magnet 25 and energizingthe magnet 26 which causes the frame to rock and change its inclinationso that the ball can roll to the end from which it started. The changeof inclination of the frame closes the shunt circuits through thefingers 40, plate 37 and switch 34, to keep the sign illuminated duringthe return movement of the ball which movement breaks the circuitthrough the carbon blocks formed by the circuit breakers and wouldextinguish the lamps but for the shunt circuits already described. Thecircuit breakersare returned to their first position as the ball runsdown the frame ready to be reversed on the return of the ball and againilluminate the letters of the sign. The ball having reached the end ofits travel strikes the switch lever 33 breaking once more the circuitsthrough the magnet 26 and the lamps and closing the circuit through themagnet 25. This automatic operation will continue indefinitely as longas the current passes along the leads A and B.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is l. A flashingdevice for an electric sign comprising a tilting frame, electric meansfor rocking the same, circuit closers carried by said frame, meansmovably supported on said frame for successively operating the circuitclosers, and switches shifted by said movable means for shunting thecurrent through the electric means and rock the frame.

2. A flashing device for an electric sign comprising a tilting frame,independent electromagnets for rocking the same, circuit closers on saidframe each adapted to close a circuit through the lamps ofa separateelement of an electric sign, means movably supported on said frame forsuccessively operating said circuit closers, and switches shiftable bysaid movable means for shunting the current from one electromagnet tothe other.

3. A flashing device for an electric sign comprising a tilting frame,independent electromagnets for rocking the same, circuit closerspivotally mounted on said frame each ada ted to close a circuit throughthe lamps o a separate element of an electric sign, a switch at each endof said tilting frame, and movable means supported on said frame forsuccessively operating said circuit closers and shifting said switchesto shunt the current from one electromagnet through the other.

4. A flashing device for'an electric sign comprising a tilting frame,independent electromagnets for rocking said frame to change itsinclination, circuit closers pivotally mounted on said frame eachadapted to close a circuit through the lamps of a separate element of anelectric sign, a switch at each end of said frame connected together,and gravity operated means mounted for automatic travel from end to endof the tilt ing frame for successively operating the circuit closers andshifting said connected switches to shunt the current from oneelectromagnet to the other.

5. In combination, an electric sign, an automatic flashing devicecomprising a tilting frame, independent electromagnets for rocking thesame to change its inclination, circult closers each provided with ashifting weight and pivotally mounted on said frame each circuit closeradapted to close a circuit through the lamps of a separate element ofsaid electric sign, a switch lever 'at each end of said frame, meansconnecting said switch levers, a gravity operated means adapted totravel automatically from end to end of the tilting frame forsuccessively operatin the circuit closers and simultaneously shiftingthe switch levers, a switch alternately closed to shunt the current fromone electromagnet to the other, a second switch on one end of the frameand a shunt circuit from all the lamps of the sign closed when saidsecond switch is closed and the end of the frame carrying the same islowered.

6. In combination, an electric sign, an automatic flashing devicecomprising a rocking frame, independent electro -magnetic means fortilting the same in opposite directions to change its inclination,gravity operated means adapted to travel alternately from end to end ofsaid frame, switches on the frame arranged to be closed by said gravityoperated means to shunt an electric current from one magnet to the otherand change the inclination of the frame, circuit closers each providedwith a shifting weight and pivotally mounted on said frame, each circuitcloser adapted to successively close a circuit through the lamps of aseparate element of said electric sign when said gravity operatedelement moves in one direction and open said circuit when it moves inthe opposite direction, and a shunt circuit to keep the lamps glowingwhile said circuits are being broken. v

7. In combination, an electric sign pro- Vided with separateilluminating elements, a lighting device comprising a rocking frame,independent electrically operating means for tilting the same inopposite directions, a gravity moving means adapted to travelalternately from end to end of said frame and shunt the circuit from oneof said electrically operating means to the other, independent circuitspassing through the lamps of each sign element, a series of circuitclosers in the path of said gravity moving means for closing and openingin succession said lamp circuits, and a shunt circuit passing aroundsaid circuit closers for holding all the lamps of the sign illuminatedwhile the direct lamp circuits are being broken by the gravity movingmeans.

8. In combination an electric sign provided with separate illuminatingelements, a lighting device comprising a rocking frame, independentelectrically operated means for tilting the same in opposite directions,a gravity moving means supported on said frame and adapted to travelalternately from end to end thereof and shunt the circuit from oneelectrically operating means to the other at the end of each movement,independent circuits passing through the lamps of each sign element,aseries of pivoted circuit closers in the path of said gravity movingmeans to be successively rocked by said means when moving in onedirection for closing said-lamp circuits and reversed to open saidcircuits when said means is traveling in the opposite direction.

9. A flashing device for electric signs provided with separateilluminating elements comprising a rocking frame, electrically op eratedmeans for tilting the same, a series of pairs of conducting blocksmounted on said frame each pair of said blocks forming a part of thecircuit through the lamps of one of the sign elements, a pivoted hollowcircuit closer to bridge each pair of conducting blocks, a movableweight in each circuit closer, and a rolling element mounted on saidframe and adapted to travel from end to end thereof for rocking saidcircuit closers and cause their contained weights to move to their lowerends and make or break the lamp circuits.

10'. A flashing device for electrical signs comprising a rockin I frame,electrically operated means for inc ining the same in oppositedirections from the horizontal, a series of pairs of conduct-in blocksmounted on said frame each pair orming the terminals of an electriclight circuit, a pivotedhollow circuit closer containing a movableweight and arranged to bridge each pair of said conductor blocks, aswitch at each end of said frame, and a rolling weight on said frame toreverse the positions of said circuit closers to close and open saidlamp circuits as it travels over said inclined frame and to operate theswitches at the ends of the frame for causing the latter to change itsinclination.

11. A flashing device for electric signs comprising a rocking frame,electro-magnetic means for inclining the frame in opposite directionswith respect to the horizontal, a ball adapted to roll from end to endof said frame, movable circuit closers having individual circuitsconnected therewith and adapted to be moved into circuit closingpositions by said ball, said circuit closers being capable ofmaintaining their respective circuits in closed condition, and means.controllable by said ball for energizing the said electro-magnetic meansto reverse the inclination of the frame.

12. A flashing device for electrical signs comprising a pair of parallelplates, connected together by an insulating strip, a series of pairs ofconducting blocks fastened to said strip and forming the terminals ofelectric lamp circuits, hollow circuit closers mounted on insulatedpivots, each adapted to bridge a pair of said conducting blocks, and amovable weight in each circuit closer adapted to travel from end to endand hold said end in a. downward position.

13. A flashing device for electrical signs, comprising a rocking frame,means for automatically rocking the same, a series of pairs ofconducting plates mounted on said rocking frame and forming theterminals of electric lamp circuits, circuit closers adapted to bridgesaid pairs of conducting plates and close said lamp circuits, a platesecured to one end of said frame and insulated therefrom, stationaryfingers to con-tact with said plate, each finger being in a shuntcircuit from one of said lamp circuits, a switch on said frame, and arolling weight automatically movable from end to end of said frame toengage and close said switch and bring into contact said plate andfingers when the frame is inclined 1n the proper direction.

14. A flashing device for'e-lectrical sign-s comprising a rocking framecapable of being tilted on a horizontal axis, an electromagnet on eachside of said pivot, a spring plate having an armature at each end abovesaid magnets and interm-ediately secured to the longitudinal center ofsaid frame, a switch in the circuit of each magnet at each end of saidframe, a switch lever for closing the circuit through each magnet, aconnecting rod between the lower end of said switch levers to cause themto move in unison, and a rolling weight carried by said frame tostrikesaid switch levers and shunt the current from one of said magnets to.the other for changing the inclination of said frame.

15. In combination, an electrical sign provided with separateilluminating elements for each letter, an automatic lighting device forflashing the lamps of each letter singly and in consecutive ordercomprising a vertically tilting frame, independent electromagnets forchanging the inclination of said frame, a series of pairs of conductingblocks mounted on said frame and each pair forming the terminals of thelamp circuits of one letter of said sign, circuit closers pivoted insaid frame and adapted to be rocked to bridge said pairs of lampterminals, a rolling weight carried by said frame and moved by gravityalternately from one end thereof to the other, a switch at each end ofsaid frame having their levers coupled together to move in unison whenstruck by said rolling weight to shunt the circuit from one magnet tothe other for changing the inclination of said frame, said rollingweight in its movement rocking said circuit closers successively to openor close said lamp circuit, and a shunt circuit through said lamps tokeep them glowing while the main circuits therethrough are being brokenby said rolling weight.

16. A circuit controller comprising a support, a series of movablecircuit closing devices arranged thereon and connected to a plurality ofelectric circuits, said circuit closing devices being provided withmeans for maintaining their respective circuits in closed condition, amovable body capable of successively operating said circuit closingdevices to close the circuits connected thereto, means operative by saidmovable body for simultaneously breaking all of said circuits,electro-magnetic means for causing reciproeating movement of said'bodyalternately in reverse directions, and a pair of operating circuits forsaid electro-magnetic means, said circuits bein arranged to be closedaltarnately at eac reciprocation of said bo 1 1;. A circuit controllerfor electric signs comprising a support provided with a runway, a seriesof movable circuit closing devices spaced longitudinally thereof andprovided with individual circuits, a body capable of traversing saidrunway longitudinally and operative to move the circuit closing devicesinto circuit closing position, means independent of the circuit closingde vices for automatically and simultaneously breaking said individualcircuits, electromagnetic means for causing said body to travelalternately in reverse directions longitudinally of said runway, a pairof operating circuits for said electro-magnet means, and switchescontrolling said circuits and arranged to be operated alternately bysaid body.

18. A circuit controller for electric signs comprising a support, aseries of contact devices arranged in spaced relation thereon,individual sign elements having circuits connected to the respectivecontact devices, said contact devices having means for maintainin theirrespective circuits in closed condition, a body movable on said supportand cooperative with said contact devices to successively close thecircuits connected thereto when said body moves in one direction, meansoperative by said movable body for simultaneously breaking said circuitsto extinguish the sign when said body reaches a predetermined position,and means for restoring said body to a position preparatory to the nextillumination of the sign.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

LEONARD MILLER. Witnesses:

V. M. BYRNES,

A. H. RICHARDSON.

